Towel-service machine



June 26, 1923. 1,460,215

' o SCHWIMMER TOWEL SERVICE MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 4, 1919 3Sheets-Sheet 1 June 26, 1923. v HAfiQZHS Q. SCHWIMMER TOWEL SERVICEMACHINE Original Filed Feb. 4 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 26, 1923.

O. SCHWIMMER TOWEL SERVICE MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 4 1919 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Fatente d mlune 2d, 1923.

OSCAR SCHWIMMER,

l il

DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO PATENT PRODUCTS COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

TOWEL-SERVICE MACHINE.

Application filed February 4, 1919, Serial No. 275,271. Renewed June 21,1922. Serial No. 569,873.

To all whom'z't may cancer m:

Be it known that I, OSCAR SoHwrMMER, a citizenof the United States,residlng at Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, and

State of California, have invented a cer tain new and useful Improvementin Towel- Service' Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device or apparatus for serving for individualuse a 'definite length of towelin from a continuous strip, and it hasespecial reference to that class-of machines more particularly detailedin my United States Patent #1,274l,611, of Aug. 6, 1918, and inmy'co-pending, application for patent filed Decp15, 1917, Serial Number207,384, said application having matured into Patent Number #1,291,188,In the devices therein described and claimed, a definite length oftoweling is paid out for use through the manipulation of a leveroperating to set in motion the main feed spool and, through a train ofgears, and other mechanism, simultaneously to drive a towelingtake uproller in compensatory relation with the diametrical variation of thetoweling on the feed roller.

The present invention has in view mainly thesimplification of a towelservice machine, the elimination of elaborate mechanism and'necessaryadjuncts of a cumbersome and an expensive nature, and the dispensationwith a lever or handle and many other partsessential in contributing tothe successful working of the machines at present in use and heretoforedevised.

It has also in view an increased efliciency, a, more compact device,less apt to erangement and disturbance of its working ele- Specificallymy invention comprises the I sembled mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail plan view seen on line 33, Fig. 2, andshowing the slide arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view of the door on which the mechanism ispreferably mounted, showing the means operable by and for controllingthe release of the toweling; also showing a means for indicating thesize of the toweling on the roller or spool.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the means for operatingthe toweling spool locking latch or pawl.

Fig. 6 is an end View of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is an end View of the take-up roller, showing the pawl forholding the roller against rotatory movement in one direction and meansprovided on the pawl or dog for preventing lateral movement of the same.

The invention comprises a roller or spool 1, on which is wound a lengthof toweling 2, which, from the function it performs, may be termed adriving element for a driven element 3, hereinafter more specificallydetailed.

The spool 1 is provided in any convenient manner at each end with aspindle 4, operating in bearings 5, which for the purposes of thisdisclosure may be open bearings formed by inverted U-shaped 'portions.These bearings 5 are preferably mounted on the door 6 of a cabinet 7,the spindles 4,

being yieldingly held in place in the bearings by the driven element 3,and thus arranged for ready removal therefrom when substituting anotherspool with clean toweling. 1

On one end of the spool 1 is a plate 0 disk 8 formed with indentations9, with which. a pawl 10 co-operates to hold the spool 1 againstrotation and consequently preventing the paying ofi' of more than adefinite length of toweling except under conditions hereinafterexplained.

In the present instance the plate or disk 8 is shown provided with twosuch indentations, diametrically opposed, and the dis tance from oneindentation to the other representing the length of toweling that may bederived from the spool 1 at each operation of the pawl 10.

The pawl 10 is pivotally mounted in a suitable bracket or plate 11, andto it is fulcrumed an operating bar 12, guided in the bracket 11 andalso in a bracket 13. A spring 14 holds the bar 12 and pawl 10 innormally operative position, that is constantly in engagement with theperiphery of the plate or disk 8, whereby on rotation of the spool 1,the bar 12 draws the pawl 10 in the indentations 9, as shown in Fig. 1.

On the bar 12 is provided a pin or lu 15, by means of which the bar 12,and the pawl 10, fulcrumed thereon, are actuated by the followingmechanism and in the following described manner:

In the upper part of the door 6, is jour naled a roller 16, the journals17 thereof forming pivots for a lever frame 18, consist ing of twolevers 19, formed with downwardly extending arcuate portions 20,normally extended and operable through slots 21 in the door 6. Thearcuate portions are interconnected by tie rods 22 and 23, the latterlying inside and serving to prevent re traction thereof beyond the door,and the former lying outside the door and preventing entrance of thearcuate portions beyond a determined limit. The arcuate portionsareadditionally connected by a roller 24 journaled therein.

The toweling 2 runs over the roller 16, thence over the. roller 24, fromwhich it hangs freely for use, sullicient length being provided to forma loop 25 below the cabinet before the toweling is returned to theinside of the cabinet, as hereinafter explained.

The ends 26 of the levers 19 are under tension of springs 27, which holdthe lever frame 18, in normally inoperative position, as shown in Fig.1.

On the end of one of the arcuate portions 20 of the lever frame- 18, ispivotally mounted a member 26', formed with a ledge 28, divergingdownwardly and rearwardly at an angle to the plane of said arcuateportion, but having its forward part in engagement with the bottom ofsaid arcuate portion, the engagement being insured by a spring 29. Theupper part of said member is formed with a slightly rounding surface 30,and with an inclined surface 31, the two surfaces being conjoined by asubstantially rotund apex 32. all for the purpose of operating the bar12 in substantially the following man- Assuming the position of theparts to be substantially that illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein one of theindentations 9, is shown 1n engagement with the pawl 10, and wherebyduring use of the exposed length of toweling, the spool is heldinoperative, that is, against rotation, the pull 0 the pendent portionof the toweling will tilt the lever frame 18, and cause the arcuateportions thereof to be moved through the slots 21 in the door 6,bringing the rounding surface 30 of the member 26' into engagementwiththe pin or lug 15 on the bar 12. The continued movement of thearcuate portion, due to pull of the operator on the toweling, causes themember 26', which is held immovable or rigid by the engagement of itsledge 28 with the underside of the arcuate portion 20, to lift the barand the pawl 10 out of engagement with one of the indentations 9, whereg upon, the pull on the toweling being maintained, the toweling may beunwound until the pawl 10 drops into the next indentation. On relievingthe pull on the toweling 2, the

lever frame 18 automatically returns to nor-' mal or original ositionunder the influence of the springs 22, the member 26', (on such returnmovement of the lever frame, moving about its pivot and against thetension of the spring 29, when striking the pin or lug 15 on the bar 12,without affecting its position. The member 26 therefore, is rigid whenmoving the operating bar, but movable when returning to normal position.

As stated hereinbefore, the toweling '2, constitutes a driving means fora driven element 3, through the medium of which the take-up roller iscontrolled by the following mechanism:

The driven element 3, in this instance consisting of a roller, isprovided at each end with a spindle 33, each spindle journaling in anarm 34, secured between a pair of angle plates 35 and 36, the plates 36extending and operating slidably in guideways 37, and the respectiveangle plates 35 being interconnected by cross rods 38. Theinterconnected angle plates 35 and 36 constitute substantially acarriage upon which are carried the elements and the parts appurtenantto the compensatory take-up' action on the towelmg.

provided with a toothed wheel 39, meshing with and arranged to impartmotion to a toothed wheel 40, keyed or otherwise secured on an arbor 41,journaled in one of the arms 34. On said arbor 41 is also keyed orotherwise secured a sprocket 42, connected with a sprocket 43 by a chain43'. The sprocket 43 is fastened on an axle 44 rotatably mounted in abearing 45, secured between one pair of the plates 35 and 36. This axle44 is partially hollowed out and one portion of the circumferentialsurface thereof flattened, as at 46. to accommodate a similarlyflattened spindle 47, provided at one end of the "take-up roller 48,which is operated through the-medium of the axle 44.

One of the spindles 33 of the element 3, is

The other end of the roller 48 is provided with a spindlej49, carriedand operating in a U-shaped open bearing 50, which is secured betweenthe other pair of plates 35 and 36.

The carriage, which is composed of the interconnected plates 35 and 36,is under the tension of springs 51, whereby the driven element 3 isconstantly and resiliently held in frictional engagement with thetoweling 2, and conveys its motion, through the means described, to thetake-up roller 48.

To prevent the rotation of the take-up roller 48 in a direction reverseto that removement of the take-up roller 48. By lift ing the dog 54 withits finger 57 the take- 'up roller may be moved laterally until theflattened spindle 47 is free of engagement with the axle 44, whereby itmay be readily lifted out of the 'open bearing for substitution byanother roller.

In the bottom of the door 6, is preferably journaled a roller 58, underwhich the tow eling is returned to the inside of the cabinet and to thetake-up roller.

To indicate the diameter of the toweling on the spool 1, I may provide arod 59, bent to form a transverse member 60 and a horizontal member 61,the horizontal member lying loosely upon the toweling 2 and following itas it, decreases in diameter, and the member 60, being pivotally mountedin a suitable support '62, and provided at its free end with anindicating hand 63, registering with suitable inscriptions on the door.

From the construction above outlined, which obviousl may be variedextensively without departing from the spiritof the invention, it willbe evident that the pull of the toweling by the user sets in motion thetoweling locking means for the supply roller mechanism and the take-uproller, and that such pull must be practised ,by' each user lhefiore alength of clean toweling may be What I claim, is

1. A towel service machine comprising a towel supply spool, meansnormally to hold said spool against movement, means operable by pull ofthe toweling to release said holding means, a take-u roller,-and meansfrictionally in contact with the toweling on thesupply spool to operatesaid take-up roller. y

2. A towel service machine com rising a toweling supply spool, means toold said spool against rotation, means operable by pull of vthe towelingto release said holding means, an element operable by said toweling, atake-up roller operable by said element, and means to hold said elementin resilient frictional contact-with the toweling.

3. A'towel service machine comprising a toweling supply spool, means tohold said spool against movement, means operable by a pull on thetoweling to release said holding means, said holding means acting alsoto limit the length of toweling at eachpull.

4. A towel service machine comprising a toweling supply spool, means tohold said toweling-against movement, means operable by a pull on thetoweling to release said holding means, a take-up roller for usedtoweling, and means frictionally and resiliently in engagement with thetoweling to operate the take-up roller.

5. A towel service machine comprising a toweling supply spool, means tohold said spool against movement, means operable by a pull on thetoweling to release said holding means, a resiliently sliding carriage,a take-up roller on said carriage, and a means on said carriage and in.enga ement with the toweling to operate said ta e-up roller.

6. A towel service machine comprising a toweling supply spool, bearings1n which said spool is operable, a carriage, means to hold said carriageunder tension, a take-up roller on said carriage for used 'toweling,

' means on said carriage and held in engagement with and o erable bysaid toweling for operating sai take-up roller and holding said spool inits bearings.

7. A towel service machine comprising a toweling supply spool, meanstohold said spool against movement, means to release said holding means?a take-up roller, means controllable by the" toweling to operate saidtake-up roller, and means to hold said takeup operating meansresiliently in engagement with the toweling. v Y

, 8. A towel service machine comprising a toweling supply spool, meansto "hold said spool against movement, means to release said holdingmeans to obtain a definite length of toweling, said means beingcontrollable by pull of the toweling, a carriage, a take-up roller onsaid carnaga; A means on said carriage and operable by said towelingto'operate said take-up roller, and" means 'to support said carriageyieldingly to insure contact ofthe take-up roller op 'erating means withthe toweling.

toweling supply spool journaled within a cabinet, means to hold.said'spool againstv movement, a lever frame journaled inisaid cabinetand carrying a roller-from which depends the length of toweling for use,op erating means on said lever frame to release said holding means,saidlever, frame operable by pull of the toweling, a carriageresiliently slidable in said cabinet, a takeup roller on said carriage,and a means on said carriage operable by the toweling to operate saidtake-up roller.

10, A towel -service machine comprising a cabinet, a toweling supplyspool in said cabinet, means to hold said spool against movement, alever frame journaled in said cabinet and carrying a roller from whichdepends the length of toweling for use, op-

erating means on said lever frame to release L.

said holding means, said lever frame being operable by pull of thetoweling, a carriage, resiliently slidable in said cabinet, a takeuproller on said carriage, means to prevent rotation of said take-uproller in one direction, and a means on said carriage operable by thetoweling to operate said take-up roller;

'11. A towel service machine comprising a cabinet, a toweling supplyspool in said cabinet, means to hold said spool againstrotation, a leverframe journaled in said cabinet and carrying a roller from which dependsthe length of toweling for use, operating means on said lever frame torelease said holding means, said lever frame being operable by pull ofthe toweling, a carriage resiliently slidable vin said cabinet, atake-up roller. on said carriage, means to prevent rotation of saidtake-up roller in one direction and against lateral movement, and ameans on said carriage operable by the toweling to operate said takeupmeans. v

12. A towel service machine comprising a cabinet, a toweling supplyroller in said cabinet, means to hold said roller against rotation, alever frame journaled in said cabinet, operating means on said leverframe to release said roller holding means, said lever frame beingoperable by pull of the toweling, a carriage slidable in said cabinet,means to hold said carriage'under tension, a take-up roller on saidcarriage, a gravity pawl to prevent rotation of said take-up roller inone direction, said pawl being formed with means to prevent'lateralmovement of said roller, and a means on said carriage operable by thetoweling to operate said. take-up' roller.

13. A towel service machine comprising a cabinet having a door, atoweling supply roller thereon, means to hold said roller againstmovement, a lever frame on said door provided with means to release saidengagement with the toweling, all of said on. the towelm holdingmeans, atake-up roller, means in engagement with said toweling to operate saidtake-u roller, means yieldingly holding said ta e-up roller operatingmeans in operating means being controllable by a pull 14:. A towelservice machine comprising means in engagement with the roll of towelingto operate said take-up'roller, and means operable by a pull on thetoweling to obtain a definite length of toweling and simultaneouslyoperate the take-up roller.

15. A towel service machine comprising a cabinet having a door, atoweling supply spool on said door, a locking means therefor, a take-uproller, means in contact with the toweling to operate said take-uproller, and a means controllable entirely by the pull on the toweling torelease the locking means and operate the take-up roller.

16. A towel service machine comprising a cabinet having a door, atoweling supply spool on said door, means to lock said spool againstmovement, a take-up roller, means controllable by pull of the towelingto operate said locking means to obtain for use a definite length oftoweling from the spool, and means controllable by the unwinding of thetoweling to operate said take-up roller.

17. A towel service machine comprising a cabinet having a door, atoweling supply spool on said door, means to hold said spool againstmovement at one time and to limit the movement thereof at another time,a take-up roller, means controllablev by pull on the toweling to operatethe holding means to obtain a definite length of toweling, and means incontact with the toweling on the spool to operate said take-up roller.

i 18. A towel service machine comprising a cabinet having a' door, atoweling supply roller thereon and provided with indenta-- naled in saiddoor and carrying a roller from which depends for use alength oftoweling, means on said lever frame to operate said roller holdingmeans, said lever framebeing operable by pull of the toweling, acarriage yieldingly slidable on said door, a take-up roller on saidcarria means .in engagement with and rotata Is by the toweling, andmechanism controllable by said means for operating the takeup roller. 4

19. A toweling service machine comprising acabinet having a door, atoweling supply spool thereon, a means to hold the spool againstmovement, a lever frame carrying a roller, a take-up roller, thetoweling depending for use from the roller on the lever frame andwinding on the take-up roller, said lever frame being operable by pullon the toweling to operate said holding means,

and means in contact with the toweling tof operate said take-up rolleras each definite release the locking means, permit the ,unlength ofclean toweling isunwound from Winding of the roll and thereby operatethe the 'toweling supply. take-up operating means.

20. A towel service machine comprising In testimony whereof I have setmy hand 5 a spool containing a rolllof towlgling a lockin the presenceof two Witnesses. ing means for t e spoo, a. ta e-up means 5: for use ltoweling, means in montact with OSCAR SCIMMER' and directly operable bythe toweling 'roll Witnesses:

- to operate the take-up means, and means W. H. Dfi'ITON,

10 controllable by a pull on the toweling to E. C. EMERY.

